Composite gear-shift handle grip



June 10, 1930. J. D. PEMBLETON COMPOSITE GEAR SHIFT HANDLEGRIP Filed May 2, 1928 Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES ID. PENIBLE'ION, OF PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO IBECK -FROS'I tCORPORA- TION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A COB-IPOR-ATIO'N OF OHIO COMPOSITE GEAR-SHIFT HANDLE GRIP Application filed May 2,

This invention relates to handles and their manufacture.

This invention has utility in the production of motor vehicle gear shifting lever grips or knobs. Referring to the drawings 2- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a motor vehicle showing a grip of the invention herein;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an element of material as used in the manufacture of the grip herein, this element being shown as an angular stick of wood of regular form;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the assembly of a plurality of the elements of Fig. 2 into a solid body;

Fig. i is a side elevation of a blank as severed from the body shown in Fig. 3 having an opening formed therein for receiving a ferrule;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation-of the ferrule for the grip;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the ferrule pressd thereinto and the blank ready 2:3 to be turned to finished form;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a finished handle or p;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a finished handle or grip; and

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX-IX, loole ing in the direction of the arrow.

Motor vehicle 1 is shown as having gear shifting lever 2 having threaded free terminus 3 mounting grip or handle 4.

Interfitting elements of wood 5, herein shown assticks square in cross section transversely of the grain, are anchored together by means of cement, glue or adhesive 6 to form a solid body 7. In assembling these 4 sticks, it is desirable that there be at least two contrasting color sets used and such alternately disposed so that a checkered appearance is given the ends of said body.

The body is then severed into blocks or 15 blanks 8, two sides of each blank having the checkered appearance and four sides thereof having a striped effect. There is also, due to the grain direction in each element, a common grain direction throughout the blank.

The blanks are then drilled to have central 1928. Serial No. 274,429.

opening 10 therein short of extending through the blank and such opening is cut into the blanks so that the axis thereof is parallel to the common grain direction.

Primary ferrule 11 has roughened or knurled surface 12 and inner thread 13. This ferrule 11 is of a diameter slightly greater than the opening 10. In assembling this ferrule 11 with the blank 8, the opening 10 is charged with binder coating 14 and the ferrule then pressed thereinto. The rouglr ened ferrule surface 12, together with the press fit serve to anchor strongly this ferrule in the blank, and such anchoring is further supplemented by setting of binder 1%.

The blank is then placed upon a mandrel, the ferrule 11 serving as a mounting for the blank, an such blank is subjected to a turning operation and the desired exterior contour of the grip is formed. In the instance herein, such is shown as an ellipsoid of revolution approximating a sphere.

Various contrasting colored woods may be used, such as black walnut and maple, or gum and pine, and due to the natural variations in the goods, each grip is distinctive. Various external contours further widen the range of appearances which may be developed. In the instance herein, in order to more clearly illustrate the resultant effect, the grip is shown as composed of alternating orange and white elements.

In the normal production of the grips the interior threaded portion 13 of the ferrule may be of a diameter to directly coact with threaded terminus 3 of the gear lever. However, when the grips are sold singly, it is sometimes necessary to supply minor bushing 15 having exterior threaded portion16 of a diameter to coact with the interior threaded portion 13, and interior threaded portion 17 of a diameter to fit the threaded portion 3.

Even greater variations may be obtained by varying the cross-sectional shape of the sections 5, say as to diamond or other polygonal form or a combination of other interfitting forms assembled into a solid body, from which the blanks are cut or by boring one element and plugging with another.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is V A gear shift lever grip embodying parallel grain Wood elements anchored together to form a block and provided centrally 1ength Wise of the elements with an opening thereinto, with the joints of the elements distributed about said opening, and a ferrule of greater transverse dimension than said opening press-fit assembled thereinto to provide a mounting for the grip.

In Witness whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES D. PEMBLETON; 

